A CHRIS Simm equaliser at the death salvaged Southport an unlikely point after they were dominated throughout by Alfreton Town.

It was probably more than the Sandgrounders deserved as the hosts continually pressed for a second goal following Paul Clayton’s opener – but it failed to arrive.

Instead, a lacklustre Port grew in stature and as Town sat back, Ciaran Kilheeney fed Simm to bury the ball past Dootson well into the four minutes of injury time.

Southport manager Liam Watson opted for an ambitious, attacking 4-3-3 formation and pointed to the 5-0 demolition of Kettering in Port’s 2005 championship winning season as justification.

But, by doing so, the visitors allowed Alfreton the bulk of early possession and were forced into a deep defensive line.

The full backs did well to prevent the majority of Town’s attacks from reaching the danger zone but it was only a matter of time before Port stopper McMillan was called into action.

Alfreton full back Dom Roma created the first real chance of the game, bombing down the left to swing in a cross that Anton Brown flicked the wrong side of the post.

Paul Clayton – Town’s top scorer in the last campaign – attempted to open his goalscoring account with an acrobatic aerial scissor kick but could only slice the ball wide.

The 448-strong crowd though Aidan Flint had done enough to open the scoring as half time approached but his looping header from a wde free kick clattered back off the crossbar, with McMillan beaten.

And as the sides looked destined to go in for the half time break goalless, it was Paul Clayton who struck with a flying header.

The speedy Hall skinned Rob Marsh Evans on the right to fire in a pacey cross that pinged off the striker’s head across McMillan, who could only parry the ball into the net.

Port struggled to attack in the second half as Alfreton searched for what seemed to be an inevitable second.

Anton Brown diced into the box from the left, only for Clayton to stand on the ball as it skimmed along the face of the Port goal.

Marsh Evans then played in Hall one-on-one with an inadvertant touch, but with the winger odds-on to slip the ball beneath McMillan, the keeper pulled off an stunning one-handed save.

The pressure became such that Watson felt compelled to adopt a more conventional 4-4-2 system, with the introduction of Barnes and Barratt.

That, combined with the increased defensive strategy enforced by Town manager Nicky Laws, afforded Southport more off the ball, especially in wide areas.

Despite the possession, the hosts stood firm as balls were pinged into the box and corners cleared.

It looked like it wouldn’t be Southport’s day until, in the third minute of injury time, Matty McGinn chipped the ball to Ciaran Kilheeney on the edge of the box, who in turn chested the ball down to Simm to fire past Dootson.

Watson said: “Any team in the league would take a point at Alfreton, so I’m happy. There won’t be many tougher places to go and a lot of sides will lose here this season.”